Saturday, Day 17: Wildcat D, Wildcat, Carter Dome, S Carter, Middle Carter, Moriah
Trails: Lost Pond Tr, Wildcat Ridge Tr, Carter-Moriah Tr, incl Mt Hight and Mt Moriah Spur
Distance: 20.04 mi, Book Time 13:50, Actual Time 10:30, Elev Gain 7553 ft
Drove up to Pinkham Notch Friday evening, and checked out the river crossing at the start of the Wildcat Ridge Trail. Couldn't see where the trail started on the other side of the river, but enjoyed seeing Glen Ellis Falls.
I dropped my car off at the trailhead on Bangor Rd in Gorham and rode my fixed gear bike back to Joe Dodge Lodge. It was 12 miles, all uphill, in the dark. Next time I will traverse north to south and coast all the way back to my car.
The great thing about the AMC lodges is coffee at 6:30 in the morning.
Unsure about the river crossing, I walked the mile from the lodge to the start of the Wildcat Ridge Trail. The Lost Pond Trail is complicated by lots of rocks, but provides beautiful views.
Time to climb!
Wildcat Ridge Trail provides many excellent views of Mt Washington's ravines.
#41 - Wildcat E
#42 - Wildcat Mtn
Carter Lake with Wildcat Mtn rising above it.
#43 - Carter Dome - The real deal, not the fakey summit with the misleading cairn that caused me to waste time taking bogus summit photos.
I detoured out to Mt Hight for the legendary views. The White Mountain Guide says, "At this bare summit, which commands the best views in the range, the
trail makes a very sharp left turn; great care must be exercised to stay
on the trail if visibility is poor, particularly going north, because a
beaten path that soon peters out continues north from the summit."
Unfortunately, it was clouded over and I didn't see the views or the trail. I only saw a misleading cairn that sent me in the wrong direction.
Fortunately, two hikers arrived going south and set me on the right trail. They also did a bike shuttle but coasted all the way downhill. They were amazed that I chose to go the opposite direction and bike uphill for 12 miles, especially on my fixie.
Fall is on the way, so it's a good thing I only have Mt Moosilauke left to complete my summer single-season 48.
#44 - South Carter - I hiked right past this peak hiding 10 yards to the right of the trail and had to backtrack to get my glamour shot. Lucky for me Kobayashi Maru was sitting on the peak and we chatted about tents vs hammocks or I might have missed it altogether.
#45 - Middle Carter
"Nubbin" is celebrating her 70th year of life by through hiking the Appalachian Trail. She identified the peaks of the Presidential Range across the notch for me and shared memories of her many hikes there over the years.
#46 - Mt Moriah
The long hike out from Mt Moriah gave me plenty of time to think about a post-hike ale, and my aching big toes. Fortunately, I met two women who recommended the Saalt Pub and it was way better than my last meal in Gorham. After hiking the Presi Traverse, John and I were ravenous but the only place open was the Burger King drive-through.
I had the New England Clam Chowder. A bit pricey, but all the extras--chanterelle mushrooms, smoked shrimp, and lobster--made for a unique and very tasty bowl of chowder.
I don't know which I enjoy more, good food or a good hike. I do know that after a long day hiking, the Allagash Black and bowl of chowder tasted like the best I ever had.
Sunday, Day 18: Mt Isolation
Trails: Glen Boulder Tr, Davis Path, Mt Isolation Spur, Isolation Tr, Rocky Branch Tr
Distance: 13.20 mi, Book Time 8:40, Actual Time: 6:45, Elev Gain 4179 ft
Sunday morning I woke up at 3am, hours before my alarm was set to go off. Sometimes I get so excited about the day that I can't sleep through the night. (Ask some of the skiers I've shared rooms with over the years.) The good thing was a got an early start; the bad thing was I left the lodge before the coffee was set out. Today was another bike shuttle, so I drove down to the Rocky Branch Trail, which I overshot in the dark and finally figured out 6 miles later. Then I rode my fixie 3-and-a-half miles uphill as the sun came up.
The eponymous Glen Boulder.
Glen Boulder Trail is really steep; 1763 feet in 1.6 miles.
Just 15 minutes past Glen Boulder, the clouds rolled in with 50 mph winds and it began to rain.The White Mountain Guide warned, "From the boulder, the trail climbs steeply up the open ridge crest. The head of the Gulf of Slides offers fine views...and runs entirely above
treeline—greatly exposed to the weather."
I didn't get to see any of the "fine views" and I had to fight the wind every step. Fortunately, my judgement was correct--although it was cloudy and windy, there were no black thunder clouds--but that didn't keep me from stressing about lightning strikes the entire time I was "above treeline--greatly exposed to the weather". I didn't relax until I got back into the woods safely.
#47 - Mt Isolation
On the way down from Mt Isolation, a creek ran along the trail most of the way.
That is, when the creek wasn't the trail itself.
I love sitting on the sofa at Flatbread Co in North Conway, drinking a local ale and eating Mopsy's Kalua Pork Pie with smoked pork shoulder and chipotle BBQ sauce.
Monday, Labor Day: The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport
Trails: Harold Parker State Forest, Rte 1A, Rte 103, Rte 9
Distance: 96 miles, Moving Time 5:51, Elapsed Time 7:26
My brother-in-law Paul met me in Reading, MA and we rode to The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport, ME.
Our families drove to The Clam Shack, arriving there as we took our first sip of Sea Dog Blueberry Ale. We then proceeded to gorge on some of the best lobster rolls and fried clam bellies in New England.
After our fish fry feast, we walked the Marginal Way in Ogunquit.
Bonnie (Paul's wife) and my daughter Alexa (in purple).
Julie and me along the Marginal Way. While I've been hiking every weekend this summer, Julie has been picking up my chores. Then when we have a holiday, she is still willing to chauffeur me home from my bike ride. The best for 29 years and counting!
Paul and me doing our superheroes pose after biking to Maine to eat lobster.
Notice Alexa photobombing and the ocean spuming--great action photo, Julie!
Next up...
Sep 6: Mt Moosilauke for #48 during the Summer of 2014.
All but three of my hikes were solo, yet several friends agreed to hike Mt. Moosilauke with me to mark my safe return to family and friends after being gone every weekend all summer.
The FB group "Hike the 4000 Footers of NH!" has provided support, encouragement, and entertainment. I invite any of you who plan to be on Mt Moosilauke around noon on Saturday (or Sunday if it rains) to join us in a toast to the mountains. I am carrying up Four-Thousand Footer IPA from Woodstock Inn and Brewery to share with my friends. Adhering to the ultra-light credo, I carry nothing extra, so I'm not carrying any extra cans. Drop me a note if you will be there and I'll carry one up for you also.
Summer Single Season 48
Can't wait for the 4000 ft IPA! I bet it tastes better at altitude :)
ReplyDeleteHope a lot of people join us so dad has to carry more beer - might slow him down enough for the rest of us to keep up!
ReplyDelete